Convertible pack and chair



1966 J. E. GRIFFITH 3,266,686

CONVERTIBLE PACK AND CHAIR Filed Aug. 25, 1965 INYENTOR LIBHN E.GRIFFITH BY d 34 WoRfiEY r filhhfihti Ce Patented August 16, 19663,266,686 CONVERTIBLE PAQK AND CHAIR John E. Griflith, 618 Elm Ave.,South Pittsburg, Tenn. Filed Aug. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 482,560 8 Claims.(Cl. 224-3?) This invention relates to a convertible pack and chair, andmore particularly to a combination pack and chair, in which nodis-assembly of parts is required for the conversion of the pack to thechair, or vice versa.

One object of this invention is to provide a convertible pack and chairin which the pack sack is secured and concealed beneath the seat framemember when the device is in the chair position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible pack andchair having a back frame member and a seat frame pivotally connected tothe back frame member for relative pivotal movement between a packposition and a chair position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination pack andchair in which the pack sack is supported to ride high on the back of aperson, when in pack position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible pack andchair provided with simple and efficient means for securing the seatframe member and the back frame member in both the pack position and thechair position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in pack position; and

FIG. 2 is an opposite side elevation of the invention shown in FIG. 1,in chair position.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the combination pack andchair, which will hereinafter be referred to as a pack-chair 10, isshown in its two fully converted positions, as a pack frame in FIG. 1and as a chair in FIG. 2.

The pack chair 10 comprises essentially a back frame member 12, a seatframe member 13, a pivotally connecting link bar 14 and a pack or packsack 15. The seat frame member 13 may be provided with depending legmembers 17 and 18, shown as U-shaped leg supports in the drawings, forsupporting the seat frame 13 upon the supporting surface such as theground or a floor, not shown. Of course, it is Within the scope of thisinvention to eliminate the legs 17 and 18 if the pack 15 were made ofrigid material, such as aluminum or hard plastic,

in which event, the pack itself would provide the necessary support forthe seat frame 13 in the chair position disclosed in FIG. 2.

The leg members 17 and 18 also provide a rigid frame for supporting thepack 15 in pack position between the seat frame member 13 and the backframe member 12, when in the pack position as disclosed in FIG. 1.

Although the back frame member 12 is subject to considerable latitude inconstruction, it is principally a substantially planer member suitableto function as a backrest in the chair position of FIG. 2, and tofunction as a forward frame member for the pack 15 and a back-supportfor the person carrying the pack, in the pack position of FIG. 1. In thedrawings, the back frame member 12 comprises an inverted U-shaped frame20 preferably of light-weight material, such as aluminum tubing, andsecured at its lower ends by a bottom transverse rod 21. Thissubstantially rectangular frame 20-21 may be covered with any suitablepanel material, such as the flexible webbing 22. The upper transverseend of the back frame 20 may be covered with padding 23 if desired, toprovide a comfortable support for the shoulders in pack position, andcomfortable head-rest in chair position. The shoulder straps 25 of anydesired construction, may be secured in any convenient manner to thefront side of the back frame member 12, so that the pack chair It may besupported in pack position by the back and shoulders of the wearer.

Seat frame member 13 is also permitted considerable latitude inconstruction so long as it functions as a seat in the chair position(FIG. 2) and as the rear portion of a pack frame to support the pack 15in pack position (FIG. 1). The drawings disclose seat frame member 13constructed substantially the same as the back frame member 12. The seatframe member 13 also includes a U-shaped tubular frame 27, preferably ofaluminum, secured at its rear end by the transverse rod 28. Thesubstantially rectangular frame formed by the members 27 and 28 iscovered by any convenient panel material, such as the flexible webbing29, shown in the drawings. Also, as shown in the drawings, the sideportions of the leg members 17 and 18 depend normal to and are in thesame plane as the side portions of the U-shaped seat frame 27. The legmembers 17 and 18 are, of course, of equal size so that they willsupport the seat frame 13 in a level position upon a level surface.

As shown in the drawings, the pack 15 is in the form of a pack-sack madeof canvas or heavy duck material and is of such size as to be fullycontained between the seat frame member 13 and the leg members 17 and18. The pack 15 may be secured to the seat frame 27 by means of strapssuch as 30, and also to the leg member 17, by means of straps such as31.

A link bar 14 is provided on each side of the pack chair 10, each linkbar 14 being identical in construction. Each end of the link bar 14 isforked to provide double ears to pass on either side of and receive therespective side portions of the back frame 20 and the seat frame 27. Oneforked end 34 of the link bar 14 is pivotally connected to the rear end39 of the side portion of the frame 27 by a pivot pin 35. The otherforked end 36 of the link bar 14 is pivotally connected to the sideportion of the frame 20 by means of a pivot pin 37.

Although the end 34 of the link bar 14 is shown pivotally connecteddirectly to the rear end 39 of the seat frame member 13, the link barend 34 may be pivoted at points on the seat frame member 13 spacedforwardly of the rear end 39, so long as the distance between the pivotpin 35 and the rear end 39 is less than the length of the link bar 14.The reason for this critical spacing is that the seat member 13 mustpivot about the pivot pin 37 and through the plane of the link bar 14 ineither direction in order to swing between the chair position disclosedin FIG. 2 and the pack position disclosed in FIG. 1.

Although not critical to the operation of the invention, if the distancebetween the pivot pin 37 and the lower end 41} of the back frame member12 is greater than the distance between the pivot pin 37 and the top ofthe seat frame member 13 when the link bar 14 is perpendicular to theseat frame member 13, then the bottom 40 of the back frame member 12will be prevented from swinging rearwardly past the plane of the linkbar 14. Thus, by having the lower portion of the back frame member 12from the pivot pin 37 to the bottom end 40 substantially as long as orlonger than the link bar 14, greater stability will be afforded the packchair 10 in its chair position disclosed in FIG. 2.

In order to connect the back frame member 12 and seat frame member 13and to sustain them in their pack and chair positions, an elognatedflexible member, such as the chain 42, is connected at its upper end byan eyebolt 43 to the upper portion of the back frame 12, and is thenthreaded through another eye-bolt 44 fixed to the side edge of theforward portion of the seat frame memher 13. The chain 42 issufiiciently long that when it is in its extended position disclosed inFIG. 2, it may be fastened to the eye-bolt 44 to provide additionalsupport for sustaining the back frame member 12 and the seat framemember 13 in the chair position. When the pack chair is converted to thepack position disclosed in FIG. 1, the chain 42 may be pulled tightthrough the eye-bolt 44 and tied or otherwise secured to hold the seatframe member 13 and the back frame member 12.

Another device employed for securing the back frame member 12 to theseat frame member 13 in chair position disclosed in FIG. 2, is the hook45 which may be threaded or otherwise secured into the top of the siderail of the seat frame 27 so that the hook 45 is pointing rearwardly.The hook 45 should be positioned at a point spaced forwardly of the rearend 39 of the frame member 13 where the hook will engage the bottom end40 of the seat frame member 12 in the desired chair position. As bestdisclosed in FIG. 1, an aperture 46 is formed in the front surfaceadjacent the bot-tom end 40 to receive the pointed end of the hook 45and thus prevent the bottom end 40 of back frame member 12 from slidingor pivoting forwardly or laterally, but which may easily be removed bypivoting the bottom end 40 rearwardly about the pivot pin 37, when it isdesired to convert the pack-chair 10 to a pack.

The chains 42 and the eye-bolts 43 and 44, the hook 45 and aperture 46,as Well as the link bar 14, are duplicated on both sides of thepack-chair 10, as shown in the opposite side views in FIGS. 1 and 2.

With the parts of the pack-chair 10 thus described, the operation willbe easily understood. Assuming that the pack-chair 10 is in the chairposition disclosed in FIG. 2, the pack sack is secured by the straps 30and 31 to the seat frame 27 and leg member 17, the bottom ends are heldby the hooks engaging the apertures 46, and the chains 42 are stretchedtaut and tied to the eye-bolts 43 and 44.

When it is desired to convert the pack sack 10 from the chair positiondisclosed in FIG. 2 to the pack position discolsed in FIG. 1, the chains42 are released from the eye-bolts 44, and the back frame member 12 ispivoted slightly counter-clockwise about the pivot pin 37 to release thehooks 45 from the apertures 46. This operation may also be assisted bypivoting the link bar 14 clockwise slightly about the pivot pin 35.Assuming that the back frame member 12 is maintained in substantiallythe position disclosed in FIG. 2, and it is released from the seatmember 13, the seat frame member 13 is pivoted counterclockwise aboutthe pivot pin 35 through more than 180 and approaching 270. The link bar14 is also pivoted counter-clockwise about the pivot pin 37 until it issubstantially normal to the back frame member 12, and the seat framemember 13 is pivoted until it is substantially parallel to the backframe member 12 so that the back frame member 12, link bar 14 and seatframe member 13 and pack sack 15 will occupy the position disclosed inFIG. 1. If the chain 42 is not substantially long enough to remain inthe eye-bolt 44 during this swinging movement, then the chain 42 isagain threaded through the eye-bolt 44 and tightened and tied in theposition disclosed in FIG. 1. The excess length of chain 42 may bedeposited in the top of the pack sack 15 as shown.

In the pack position, additional stability is obtained by the rear sideportions of the rear leg member 18 resting on the adjacent flat surfacesof the link bars 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The rear leg member 18 may betied against the link bar 14, if desired, by means of the thong 50.

The shoulder straps 25 are then thrown over the shoulders of the wearerand adjusted to the most comfortable position, and the conversion fromchair to pack is then complete.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the structural arrangement of the backframe member 12, seat frame member 13 and link bars 14 are such that thepack sack 15 is supported against the upper portion of the backside ofthe back frame member 12, so that the pack 15 and the entire pack framewill ride high on the shoulders of the wearer, which is the recommendedand most comfortable position for carrying a pack.

When it is desired to convert the pack sack 10 from a pack to a chair,the reverse operation is effected. The shoulder straps are removed fromthe wearer, the chain 42 is removed, and if the thong 50 is used, it isuntied. The seat frame member 13 is then pivoted back through its to 270turn about the pivot pins 35, and then the seat frame member 13 and linkbars 14 are pivoted about the pivot pins 37 to cause the seat framemember 13 to pivot beneath the bottom ends 40 clearing the hooks 45. Thelink bars 14 and the back frame member 12 are then manuevered until thehooks 45 engage the apertures 46. If desired, although not alwaysnecessary, the chains 42 may be tightened and secured to the eye-bolts44. In this manner, the elements are properly related and secured instable position to provide a comfortable chair.

Moreover, as viewed in FIG. 2, the pack sack 15 is adequately heldWithout damage, while being concealed beneath the seat frame member 13.Moreover, since the top of the pack sack 15 is disposed beneath thefront of the seat frame member 13, the contents of the pack sack 15 arereadily accessible from the front of the chair without removing the packsack 15 from its secured position between the legs i17 and 18.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible pack and chair comprising:

(a) an elongated back frame member haw'ng a front side and a back sideand an upper end and a lower end,

(b) an elongated seat frame member having a top side and a bottom sideand a rear end and a front end,

(c) a link bar having a first end and a second end,

(d) first means for pivotally connecting said first end to said seatframe member at a point adjacent said rear end, the distance betweensaid first end and said rear end being less than the length of said linkbar,

(e) second means for pivotally connecting said second end to said backframe member at a point spaced from said lower end,

(f) a pack,

(g) means for securing said pack to the bottom side of said seat framemember,

(h) means for securing said seat frame member to said back frame memberin pack position with said pack between the bottom side of said seatframe member and the back side of said back frame memher,

(i) shoulder strap means for securing the front side of said back framemember upon the back of a person, and

(j) means for securing said back frame member to said seat frame memberin chair position with the lower end of said back frame member betweensaid front end and said first pivotal connecting means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which the distance between saidsecond pivotal connecting means and said lower end of said back framemember is at least as great as the distance between said second pivotalconnecting means and the top side of said seat frame member when saidlink bar is normal to the plane of said seat frame member.

3. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising leg membersdepending from the bottom side of said seat frame member adapted tosuport said convertible pack and chair in chair position, said packbeing contained between said leg members.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said means for securingsaid seat frame member to said back frame member in pack positioncomprises a flexible lineal member connecting the upper portion of saidback frame member above said second pivotal connecting means to theforward portion of said seat frame member.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said flexible linealmember is long enough to be extended to connect said forward portion ofsaid seat frame memher and said upper portion of said back frame memberin chair position.

6. The invention according to claim :1 in which said means for securingsaid back frame member to said seat frame member in chair positioncomprises a stop member extending upwardly from the top side of saidseat frame member for engagement with said lower end of said back framemember,

7. The invent-ion according to claim 6 in which said stop membercomprises a hook extending upwardly from said top side of said seatframe member and pointing References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 5/1919 Janczyk 224-6 3/1961 Beardsley 2249 References Cited bythe Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,402 8/ 1949 Elston. 2,490,36712/ 1949 Maddocks. 2,843,185 7/1958 Clem et al. 2,915,154 12/1959Holder. 3,062,583 11/1962 Hamilton.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

W. F, WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONVERTIBLE PACK AND CHAIR COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BACK FRAMEMEMBER HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND A BACK SIDE AND AN UPPER END AND A LOWEREND, (B) AN ELONGATED SEAT FRAME MEMBER HAVING A TOP SIDE AND A BOTTOMSIDE AND A REAR END AND A FRONT END, (C) A LINK BAR HAVING A FIRST ENDAND A SECOND END, (D) FIRST MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRSTEND TO SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER AT A POINT ADJACENT SAID REAR END, THEDISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FIRST END AND SAID REAR END BEING LESS THAN THELENGTH OF SAID LINK BAR, (E) SECOND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAIDSECOND END TO SAID BACK FRAME MEMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID LOWEREND, (F) A PACK, (G) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PACK TO THE BOTTOM SIDE OFSAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER, (H) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER TOSAID BACK FRAME MEMBER IN PACK POSITION WITH SAID PACK BETWEEN THEBOTTOM SIDE OF SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER AND THE BACK SIDE OF SAID BACKFRAME MEMBER, (I) SHOULDER STRAP MEANS FOR SECURING THE FRONT SIDE OFSAID BACK FRAME MEMBER UPON THE BACK OF A PERSON, AND (J) MEANS FORSECURING SAID BACK FRAME MEMBER TO SAID SEAT FRAME MEMBER IN CHAINPOSITION WITH THE LOWER END OF SAID BACK FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FRONTEND AND SAID FIRST PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS.